Albbet d



tented Oct. 16, 1888.

UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

THE MILLERS FALLS COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPIRIT-LEj/EL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,242, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed June 4, 1888. Serial No. 276,037. (No model.)

To all 2071/0122, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT D. GoonELL, of Millers Falls, in the county of Franklin and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Securing and Adjusting Plumb and Level Glasses, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

In the drawings like letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plumb and level provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, in which are represented the several parts of my improved devices as applied to the plumb-glass. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, in which are represented the several devices constituting my improvement as applied to level-glasses. Fig. 4 is the adj usting-bed for the plumb-glass. Fig. 5 represents the adjusting-screw, plate, and spring used in my invention.

In Fig. 1, A is the side of the wood frame of the level; A, the edge of the wood frame or stock. B is the top plate, having an opening in the center 9, through which is seen the bubble withintheglass,f being the center, and which is usually indicated by a small wire passing over the top of the bubble-glass and held underneath by the plaster or other material by which the glass is held in the bed. This wire also serves to strengthen the several parts and to prevent the bubble-glass from becoming loose. The top plate, B, is held in place by the screws 6. The tops ofthe adj usting screws, hereinafter to be spoken of, are seen at F F, and are nearly flush with the face of the top plate, but not attached in any manner to it. This plate is therefore independent of the bubble-glass and adjusting mechanism, and while it protects the several parts it. does not necessarily, even if injured, disarrange the several adjusting devices and the bed-plate. A small circular piece is cut out of the level upon each side of the stock h, as is common in articles of this kind, for the purpose of allowing the bubble to be seen from the side.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the bubble-glass is indicated by D, which is set in the adjustable bed 0, said bed being preferably made of brass or other metal. A mortise is made in the side of the level-stock A, into which the adj ustable bed with the bubble-glass is secured by plaster or other suitable material. At one or both ends of the adjustable bed G are placed the adjusting-screws F F. Near the center is the thread I), and around the said adjustingscrews is placed the spring G. The adj ustingscrews are held in position by the plates E E, the plates being held to the bottom of the mortise by the screws 6 e. The adjusting-screws pass through the ends of the plates E, a hole being made in each plate for the purpose, and the bottom of the adj Listing-screws being formed with large flat heads, which heads rest upon the bottom of the mortise made in the 6 wood stock of the level. The plate E securely holds the adjusting-screw in its place while it allows the said screw to be turned freely. The spring G rests upon the top of the plate E and is coiled around the adj listing-screw. The ends of the adjustable bed C have a suitablev hole made therein, so that each end slips over the adjusting-screw F, resting upon the top of the spring G. On the upper side is placed the nut H, one upon each adjustingscrew, said nut being held from turning by a square rceess similar to n, Fig. 4.

Now it will be observed that the operation is as follows: The glass having been properly secured in the adjustable bed 0, and the plates E E and the adjustingscrews F F, with the springs G G, all in proper position, the adjusting-bed is slipped over the adj usting-screws and the nuts are placed thereon. Now by turn ing with a screwdriver the said screws F, or either of them, the said adj listing-bed will be moved up and down-that is, each end will be pressed upward by the spring under it and will be forced downward by the pressure of the threaded nut H engaging the thread upon the adj ustingscrew. In this manner the glass can be adjusted with great nicety, and as the upper ends of the adjusting-screws project through the top plate, B, the adjustment of the glass, should it for any reason become disarranged, is but the work of a moment. The clampingplate E, with the adj listing-screw and spring, is shown in Fig. 5, the spring being removed.

Referring now to Fig. 2, I make use of the same principle in adjusting the plumb-glass, the plumbglass being usually placed in the same wood stock or frame A. O is the adjustable bed of the plumb-glass. To this is attached a tube, 0. The plumb-glass is inserted in this tube 0 the central portion of the said tube upon one side being cut out in order that the glass may be seen, as indicated. F is the adj usting-screw,with its thread I) and flat head at the bottom 0, the said adjusting-screw being held in place by the clamping-plate E and the spring G, around the said adj usting-screw and resting on the clamping-plate. The said bed 0 is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4, It being the hole through which the adj usting'screw passes, and the recess 11 formed to allow the nut H to set therein. Upon the opposite end of the said adjustable bed for the plumb-glass, and on the under side, is provided near the end a raised convex surface, Z, upon which that end rests when screwed to the wood through the hole on by a screw, e; The hole rm is a little larger than the size of the screw, and thus a little motion is permitted to the adj usting-bed. Now it will be seen that when the several parts are placed in proper position, the tube 0 being rigidly attached to the adjustable bed 0, when the said adj ustingscrew F is turned, engaging with its nut H, the adj usting-bed will be moved, carrying with it the plumb-glass, which has been secured in the tube 0. As in the case of the level, the outer end of the adjusting-screw F projects through nearly to the surface of the top plate, 13, the said top plate being held in position by the screws e.

lam aware that level and plumb glasses have been adjusted before; but said adjustments, as far as my knowledge extends, have been either complicated or in some way attached or connected with the top plate, or have required the removal of the top plate, in order to set or correct the adjustment. All this or either of these ways are objectionable in practice.

It will be observed that my improvement is perfect in itself, is delicate in its operation, and is exact even to a nicety. parts are not liable to get out of order, being fully protected by the top plate, and at the same time any ordinary injury to the top plate will not break or injure the bed or adjusting devices. As applied to plumb-glasses, I am not aware of any convenient and accurate adjusting device in the market.

I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement of parts as herein shown, as they may be varied somewhat as to detail without departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

By my construction a simple, durable, and perfect adjustment is obtained, entirely disconnected or not dependent upon the top plate and easily operated by any ordinary mechanic.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of the wood frame or Moreover, the I stock A, the adjusting-bed O, the adjustingscrews F F, springs G G, nuts H H, and clamping-plates E E, arranged and adapted. to operate substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a level-adjustment, the adj usting-bed O, the bubble-glass D, and the wire f, combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a level-adjustment, the combination of the adjusting-screw F, spring G, the said adjusting-screw suitably secured at its bottom and adapted to be moved, and the nut H, threaded to the adjusting-screw, all adapted to vertically move the end of a level-glass suitably secured in a bed, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a plumb-adjustment, the hollow tubes 0 provided with the bed 0, the latter formed with the projection Z, and the adjusting-screw F, spring G, clamping-plate E, and nut H, all combined and arranged substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a plumb, the hollow tube 0 bubbleglass D, and wire f, all combined and arranged substantially as aud for the purposes set forth. 9o

6. In a level, the combination of an adjustable bed for holding the bubble-glass, and two vertical screws suitably arranged and adapted to be operated through the top plate to'adj ust said bed, but independently of the same and without removal thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a plumb, the adjusting device consisting of the screw F, spring G, nut H, and clamping-plate E, all combined with the bed 0, provided with a projection, Z, upon the bottom and near one end, and suitably formed upon its upper side and opposite end to hold and seat the said nut H, and adapted to be contained and operated in a suitable mortise formed in the frame A, independently of the top plate, B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a plumb, the hollow tube 0 integral and in combination with the bed 0, formed at one end of said tube, and consisting of two arms, one extending below the said tube and provided with the projection or fulcrum Z, and the other extending above the said tube and adapted to be moved by the action of the screw F, nut H, and spring G, substantially as and for the purposes set fort In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 24th day of May, 120 A. D. 1888.

ALBERT D. GOODELL.

\Vitnesses:

E. S. ELLIOT, J. E. KAVENAUGH. 

